Khartoum hub contracts up for grabs

Alsunut Development Company set to launch construction packages for new business and residential project in Sudan

Construction packages on a US $4 billion business and residential development in Sudan will soon be up for grabs. Local developer Alsunut Development Company plans to develop the new commercial facility in the centre of Khartoum city. The Dubai office of KEO is responsible for the programme management while the consultant’s Abu Dhabi office is carrying out detailed infrastructure design. Saudi contractors are tipped to win the lion’s share of construction work on the 2000 acre mega-project, which is located where the Blue Nile meets the White Nile. “The client has already started work on the road base and embankments, allowing construction work to start in October, but contracts have not yet been let,” said KEO development manager, Kim McLure. The first phase of the project includes a 160-acre central business district and the second is a 1420 acre, residential and leisure estate featuring an 18-hole golf course. Construction on stage one has already commenced and is estimated to be complete within five years, while construction of phase two will commence in the first quarter of 2006 and is estimated to be complete within seven years. The ‘Almogran’ development will be served by its own local authority that will give support to all investors and ensure adherence to urban design guidelines during and after the development process. The authority will also provide a facilties manage- ment function for the provision and up-keep of all utilities and services. The first phase of the project includes 44 commercial plots, 18 hotel plots, 700 apartments and provision for more than 15 000 cars. The second phase will provide for an additional 650 villas, 7236 apartments and 70 880 m2 of retail development. Around half of the development plots in the first phase of the project have already been acquired by investors, including oil companies and hotel groups. It is understood that the project has also generated substantial interest from potential GCC and expatriate Sudanese investors.